FA Cup
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA FINED A WEEK’S WAGES FOR CARABAO CUP FINAL SUBSTITUTION FARCE
Chelsea have fined goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga a week’s wages after his bust-up with Maurizio Sarri at Wembley.
The Spaniard and his Italian boss held talks on Monday over the ‘keeper’s public display of defiance towards the end of extra-time in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, which the Blues lost to Manchester City on penalties.
Sarri was left raging on the touchline after Arrizbalaga defied his attempts to substitute him for Willy Caballero ahead of the penalty shootout.
Both men brushed it off as a misunderstanding at full-time but Arrizabalaga has personally apologised to Sarri, his team-mates and the club in full acknowledgement he made “a big mistake”.
His wages will go to charity, and he said: “I have thought a lot more about yesterday’s events. Although there was a misunderstanding, on reflection I made a big mistake with how I handled the situation.
“I wanted to take the time today to apologise fully and in person to the coach, to Willy, my team-mates and to the club. I have done this and now I want to offer the same apology to the fans.
“I will learn from this episode and will accept any punishment or discipline the club decides is appropriate.”
Sarri said: “Kepa and I have spoken about the incident. It was a good conversation. There was a misunderstanding yesterday but he realises he made a big mistake in the way he reacted. He has apologised to me, his team-mates and the club.
“It is up to the club if they want to discipline him according to the club rules, but for me this matter is now closed. The team performance as a whole was extremely positive and it is a shame to see how this incident has overshadowed our efforts in what was a very competitive cup final.
“Everyone’s focus is now on the next game and we must all now put this behind us.”
Arsenal will be without injured England attacker Noni Madueke when they face Southampton in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final, but Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber may return from injury, manager Mikel Arteta said.
Madueke was among the 11 Arsenal players who withdrew from international duty last month over injuries and fitness management, as the club eye their first Premier League title since 2004.
“When you have to communicate the state of every player, we are always honest and a medical decision had to be made. That was clear what the conclusion was,” Arteta told reporters on Friday.
“It makes us so proud that we had that many players in the national team. Players are desperate to play for their nation. I know how important it is to them. We are fully supportive of that and when we can do it, we do it.”
Madueke picked up a knee injury during England’s friendly with Uruguay, missing the game against Japan. But Arteta said his condition was not as bad as a knee injury that kept him out for six weeks.
Martin Zubimendi, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Timber, Leandro Trossard, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were unavailable for their countries.
Arteta did not disclose how many of them will be available for Saturday’s game, as Arsenal look to shake off last month’s League Cup final loss to Manchester City with a return to Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals.
“We’re in a position right now where we need to make the strongest line-up we possibly can to win every competition,” he said. ” We are two or three games away from the FA Cup and we know how important that competition is for us.”
-Reuters
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Manchester City will look to secure a historic eighth straight semi-final appearance in the FA Cup when they face Liverpool on Saturday, manager Pep Guardiola said.
City beat Arsenal to win the League Cup before the international break, and Guardiola is hoping his team maintain the momentum as they fight to add the FA Cup and Premier League to this season’s trophy haul.
“Once you finish one, it is the next one,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“Tomorrow we have the chance to reach an incredible milestone, to make eight semi-finals in a row. It’s never happened… it is a prestigious competition, and one of the toughest, special opponents for all of us, Liverpool.”
City have dominated English football with six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups since Guardiola joined in 2016, but Liverpool have been a constant thorn in his side throughout his coaching career.
As a coach, Guardiola has only nine victories and seven draws in 26 matches against Liverpool, his worst win rate against a Premier League club.
City have beaten Liverpool twice in the Premier League this season, but had to dig deep for a late comeback when they won 2-1 at Anfield in February.
“So many times they have been the rival, the biggest, biggest one… top contender, top class players, all of them. Hopefully we have to perform in the level we did against Arsenal to reach the next step,” Guardiola said.
The manager also praised Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who has announced his departure in the summer.
“Absolutely. One of the greatest. The numbers, the consistency. What a player… absolute legend, of course for Liverpool, but (also) for the Premier League,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola, however, avoided commenting on his own midfielder Rodri, who said he was open to a move to Real Madrid when his contract with City runs out at the end of this season.
“No clue, no opinion… because I know the intention of the club, I know the intention, I think, of him, but I don’t know,” Guardiola said.’
-Reuters
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Manager Arne Slot hailed the impact Mohamed Salah has had on Liverpool during his nine years at the club, and is hoping the Egyptian forward will win two more trophies with them before leaving.
Salah, who has scored 255 goals for Liverpool and helped them win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups and one Champions League trophy, announced last week he would depart at the end of the season.
Slot said Salah was available for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash at Manchester City.
“He trained with us yesterday and today, and he’s available for the game tomorrow,” he told reporters on Friday, heaping praise on the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all time.
“It’s been unbelievable what he did for this club, for so many years, every three days, scoring the goals he did, having the assists, having the impact that he had on this club, winning the trophies… I can only hope that he can add two extra trophies to it towards the end of the season.”
Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League, 21 points below leaders Arsenal, but have reached the Champions League quarter-finals and face Paris St Germain away on Wednesday.
ALISSON OUT WITH LONG-TERM INJURY
Slot’s side are without first-choice keeper Alisson Becker as they enter the final two months of the season, with the Brazilian sidelined due to injury.
“Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit,” Slot said.
Striker Alexander Isak has rejoined the team after missing over three months due to a broken leg.
“It would definitely be too fast to expect him in the starting line-up. He’s trained with us yesterday for the first time… after exactly 101 days,” the manager added.
Liverpool have lost both Premier League games against City this season, but Slot said their improved performance in February’s 2-1 home defeat showed his team can be competitive against Pep Guardiola’s side.
“First half at Anfield, City dominated possession… how impressive was it that we dominated possession in the second half? Because how many teams can dominate possession against City?” Slot asked.
“Now we have to show this as well in their stadium, which is more difficult than having 60,000 people at Anfield helping you.”
-Reuters
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